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bmichaelh

(1,284 posts) Tue Jun 2, 2026, 10:43 PM Tuesday

Greatness of film Network

Lawrence O'Donnell mentioned the film Network tonight in reference to firing of Scott Pelley.

When the film Network, came out, some critics said it went over the line but much of it has come to pass since then.

Like angry newscasters.

News as entertainment.

There is a part of the movie where Howard Beale, a newscaster, gets his listeners to flood White House with letters and telegrams in order to stop a Saudi Arabia company from buying parent company he works for.

Flash forward to now; Ellisons are using Saudi money to help finance their purchase of WB Discovery, which owns CNN.

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Greatness of film Network (Original Post) bmichaelh Tuesday OP

Network is one of my all time favorite movies. It was so far ahead of its time. Wiz Imp Tuesday #1

I love that movie MIButterfly Tuesday #2

Wiz Imp

(10,569 posts)

1. Network is one of my all time favorite movies. It was so far ahead of its time.

Reply to bmichaelh (Original post)

Tue Jun 2, 2026, 10:50 PM

Tuesday

It absolutely seemed to predict the future of TV News.

The closing line is my favorite:
"This was the story of Howard Beale: The first known instance of a man who was killed because he had lousy ratings."

Such a great movie!

MIButterfly

(3,254 posts)

2. I love that movie

Reply to bmichaelh (Original post)

Tue Jun 2, 2026, 11:04 PM

Tuesday

It's amazing (and frightening!) that a lot of what's in that movie from the mid-70s has actually come to pass, especially news as entertainment.

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